UNESCO: Jim Williams
Welcome to Chan Chan, capital of the Chimu Kingdom and the largest earthen architecture city in pre-Columbian America (UNESCO) http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/366. Charged with the responsibility to conserve and protect this site is the Ministry of Culture in Peru (MC). Together with national, regional and municipal authorities, MC outfits different actions to ensure its safety. However, as much good as they are doing, they do not adhere to all five principles that make up a successful and sustainable cultural heritage tourism program:
1. Collaborate
2. Find the fit between the community and tourism
3. Make sites and programs come alive
4. Focus on authenticity and quality
5. Preserve and protect resources
Two principles that are still under improvement are making the sites and programs come alive and preserving and protecting resources. The reason this site was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger was due to the dangerous state of conservation caused by El Nino. The issue of archaeological site robberies, or plundering has also been an unsavory occurrence (UNESCO). On top of all that, plans to construct a road running through the site would have decreased and damaged the sites ability to remain authentic and historical.
Issues like these are what prohibit sites like Chan Chan to reach it’s full potential as both a natural wonder and historical artifact. To ensure the longevity of sites like Chan Chan, more has to be done. Onsite “park rangers” for example, could provide constant security. Reaching out to local organizations and businesses to help maintain and promote the site as a tourist location. This would provide increased revenue to help pay for the management plans of action designed by MC and cooperating officials and authorities.
1. Collaborate
2. Find the fit between the community and tourism
3. Make sites and programs come alive
4. Focus on authenticity and quality
5. Preserve and protect resources
Two principles that are still under improvement are making the sites and programs come alive and preserving and protecting resources. The reason this site was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger was due to the dangerous state of conservation caused by El Nino. The issue of archaeological site robberies, or plundering has also been an unsavory occurrence (UNESCO). On top of all that, plans to construct a road running through the site would have decreased and damaged the sites ability to remain authentic and historical.
Issues like these are what prohibit sites like Chan Chan to reach it’s full potential as both a natural wonder and historical artifact. To ensure the longevity of sites like Chan Chan, more has to be done. Onsite “park rangers” for example, could provide constant security. Reaching out to local organizations and businesses to help maintain and promote the site as a tourist location. This would provide increased revenue to help pay for the management plans of action designed by MC and cooperating officials and authorities.
UNESCO.org
An organization that is working to help earthen architectures around the world like Chan Chan is the World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP) http://whc.unesco.org/en/activities/21/. They aim to collaborate by using pilot projects found on the World Heritage List, to identify practices, methods and techniques for bettering the conservation, protection and management of earthen sites. They work towards policies that will favor conservation and that broaden our understanding of issues and difficulties facing earthen sites, this is how WHEAP works to preserve and protect resources and focus on authenticity and quality. They work towards organizing training workshops, exhibitions, activities and conferences in local communities to find the fit between community and tourism,while at the same time making the sites and programs come alive. By simply being proactive, involved and organized, WHEAP continues to incorporate the five principles of cultural heritage tourism programs. For more information on WHEAP and Chan Chan, click on their website links above, or just click here to visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/danger/
